Sunday Recap & Be Free by Maggie Devers

Sunday Recap & Be Free by Maggie Devers

Author: Maggie Devers August 17, 2025 Duration: 11:24

Here’s your recap of this week’s poems plus one new poem to carry us into the week ahead.

Aug 11 - Silence the Foe by Gloriaea. @_gloriaea on Instagram. Gloriaea’s Atelier on Substack. She has an upcoming release planned for 2026.

Aug 12 - i promised myself i will not write about you by Bushra Iqbal @lettersformedusa on Instagram.

Aug 13 - The Biggest Lie by Gabrielle Kay @gabriellekayartistry on Instagram. Her book, The Trail She Left: A collection of poetry, is out now.

Aug 14 - I Will Sing Louder Than Bombs by Aslam Sheik @smmaslam on Instagram. Aslam Mohammed on Substack. His book, Paper Boat - in Rumi's Garden, is out now.

Aug 15 - Words Are Fairy Dust by Misti Marie Elmore @mistimarie8 on Instagram.

Aug 16 - Baby Blue Marble by Old Fart with a Guitar @old_fart_with_a_guitar on Instagram. Listen to his music here: Old Fart with a Guitar.

Aug 17 -

Be Free

Maggie Devers

Time for the chorus
The good bit we’re waiting for
The sweet part, the lines we know
By heart
And sing out
For us.

You quote chapter and verse
Good for you
But what does it mean?
You’ve memorized sonnets
But that won’t feed my love

Write me a poem
And shout it

Like we did after dropping quarters in the jukebox
Or crowded around the piano
Sipping gin and soda
Smoking cigarettes
Oblivious to anything that didn’t matter
Only there for the chorus.

More from Maggie Devers ↓


Mentioned in this episode:

Write After: National Poetry Month with One Poem Only

Write After is a way to encourage poets to listen and write, and use National Poetry Month to highlight how listening to poetry makes us better poets. I know I write the best when I’m surrounded by beautiful poetry–it’s part of the reason I created this podcast, and I want to encourage others to share this practice. We'll get started in April. You can share to #WriteAfterOPO.

#WriteAfterOPO


Each day, One Poem Only offers a brief, deliberate pause. Hosted by Maggie Devers, this podcast is built on a simple, consistent premise: a single poem, read aloud, without analysis or introduction. It’s an audio space where the words themselves are the event, a performance meant to be absorbed in the few minutes it takes to hear it. The daily rhythm of the show creates a quiet ritual, a point of reflection woven into a busy life. You might hear a classic sonnet, a piece of modern free verse, or a work from a poet you’ve never encountered. The selection is varied, touching on themes from the natural world to the intricacies of human emotion, always leaving room for your own interpretation. The effect is cumulative; listening regularly becomes a subtle form of education in the sound and scope of poetry, and a small act of self-care. This isn't a lecture or a book club, but a performing art delivered directly to your ears. Maggie’s clear, thoughtful readings provide the only framework needed, allowing each poem to stand entirely on its own. The curtain falls, and the moment passes, but the podcast invites you to return tomorrow when a new piece takes center stage, offering another quiet moment, one poem only.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 355

One Poem Only
Podcast Episodes
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One Poem Only is a daily poetry podcast offering a quiet moment with a single poem—read aloud, without analysis or noise. Not mine anymore Avalon If my words are my ownThey are all that I haveExcept... that’s not quite r…
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